Mumbai Fire Brigade Receives PETA Award For Heroic Rescue Of Kitten

Mumbai – Last week, the Mumbai Fire Brigade responded to the scene after a scared kitten became stuck in the hollow of a tree in Champaklal Industrial Estate in Sion East. Six members of the crew worked diligently, cutting holes into the tree and trying to reach the kitten for more than three hours, but the fearful feline evaded rescuers by moving up and down the inside of the trunk. The crew then used a camera to gauge the exact location of the kitten. As one firefighter cut a hole into the base of the tree, the kitten raced out another hole to safety. The fire brigade will receive a Hero to Animals Award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

“Through sheer persistence and determination, the members of the Mumbai Fire Brigade helped this kitten escape a dangerous situation that could have led to injury or death”, says PETA India Chief Functionary Poorva Joshipura. “We know that the brigade’s compassionate actions will inspire others to intervene when they see an animal in distress.”

The fire brigade will receive a framed certificate and a letter of appreciation.

Although this incident had a happy ending, not all cats and dogs who live on the streets are so lucky. Many starve to death, die of untreated illnesses or injuries, get hit by vehicles or fall prey to animal abusers. That’s why PETA encourages people to adopt homeless cats and dogs from the streets or from animal shelters and to help take a bite out of the animal overpopulation crisis by always getting their animal companions sterilised.

Others who have received PETA’s Hero to Animals Award include Cyrus Broacha for refusing to ride a bull during ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 3’, Sadaa Sayed for stopping to help a puppy in trouble and Zarine Khan for rescuing a cat.